Loretta Bates

Loretta Bates, 76, a resident of Decatur and formerly of Benton, passed away Wednesday, April 20, 2011 in an Athens hospital. She was retired from Home Maker Industries. She attended Archville Baptist Church in Reliance. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Walter Massey, Sr.; second husband, Kenneth Bates; parents, Virgil and Violet Webb Combs; son, Walter G. Massey, Jr.; daughter, Retha Ann Harvey; and sister, Annette Combs. She is survived by her children, Jeanie Shelton and husband, Bobby of Benton, Debbie Stephens of Decatur, Tammy Massey and special friend, Maxine Wilson of Decatur and Walter Massey III and wife, Cindy of Georgia; 16 grandchildren, including the three she raised, Michael Harvey, Edward Harvey and Melissa Roddy; 32 great grandchildren; brothers, Ralph Combs and wife, Connie of Greer, SC and Roy Combs and wife, Geneva of Geneva, NY; sister, Diane Combs of Newton Falls, OH; and special friends, Tammy Hale and Nancy Champion. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 23, 2011 at Archville Baptist Church with the Reverend Wilfred Wright and the Reverend Jimmy Plumley officiating. Interment will follow in Archville Baptist Church Cemetery with a white dove release ceremony concluding the service. The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Friday at Higgins Funeral Home. We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Bates family guest book at www.higginsfuneral.com.